The following press release is from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley.
More than 30 Club members, parent volunteers, BGCSV staff, and American Heart Association representatives got their hands dirty in the American Heart Association Teaching Garden at the Alviso Youth Center Clubhouse on March 28, 2012.
Funded by a grant from The Health Trust, the Teaching Garden came to life after weeks of preparation by the Garden Club members led by Clubhouse Staff Member, Cece Samarron.
The afternoon event began with a nutrition presentation facilitated by Suellen Haggerty a nutritionist with the Public Health Santa Clara County – she wore an apple costume and awarded responses and participation with broccoli stress balls to keep the kids entertained and involved. It was impressive to know how many of the kids already knew about the elements of good nutrition and what makes fruit and veggies such and important part of our daily diets.
After the planting of more than 100 fruit and vegetable seedlings such as lettuce, bell peppers, cilantro, strawberries and cantaloupe, the kids took part in a hands-on cooking demonstration to make salad dressing from scratch. Not all the reactions to the garlicky ranch dressing were alike, but all the kids had a great time trying something new and tasting their creations.
In a few weeks, after tender care of their garden, they will see the beginning of their hard work. Although all the kids were excited about the strawberries and greenbeans, our hope is that they will all be excited to try less appealing vegetables like red bell peppers and lettuce.
